Since high school, being a studio manager, I found that fog machines make great effects on theater and music performances, making the audience even more awed and focused on the artist, which is why they make a great investment for any stage performance.
I found that the best overall fog machine is the ADJ Fog Fury 2000, as it is a very powerful fog machine that also works as a lighting system, making it the perfect fog machine for both large and small stadiums and worth the price it comes in.
However, I find that the Chauvet Pro Vesuvio II is the also great because I do both large- and small-scale shows, but that might not be the case for you and others who have a completely different purpose, which is why I’ve made a list of the best fog machines to help you thin down your options.
In this article, I’ve listed ten of the best fog filters in the market, as well as a buying guide to help potential buyers like you pick only the best one for your situation!
Contents
10 Best Fog Machines
- ADJ Fog Fury 2000 – Best Fog Machine Overall
- Chauvet DJ Hurricane 2000 – Best for Large Studios and Theaters
- Martin Lighting JEM ZR45 – Best for Stadiums
- 1byone Fog Machine – Best for Commercial Use
- AGPTEK 500W Fog Machine – Best for Home Use
- ADJ VF400 Portable Fog Machine – Best Portable Fog Machine
- Chauvet DJ Hurricane 1000 – Best Compact Fog Machine
- ATDAWN Halloween Fog Machine – Best for Beginner Studio Managers
- ADJ Fog Fury Jett – Best Colored Fog Machine
- Chauvet Pro Vesuvio II – Best for Versatility
Also Great | Editor's Choice | Budget Pick |
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ADJ Fog Fury 2000
The ADJ Fog Fury 2000 is one of the medium-sized fog machines that make enough fog for small theaters and studios, with integrated security features that protect you and everyone else in the room from suffering electric and fire hazards.
The dense fog that the Fog Fury 2000 produces has been measured to be around 7000 cubic feet, allowing it to be both thick and tall so it is visible enough for the audience no matter where they are seated, especially in small spaces like home, school, and small theaters!
ADJ includes their Electronic Thermo Sensing (ETS) technology in the Fog Fury 2000, so heat levels are maintained between each fog blast to allow you to create visual effects in less than just a minute.
Safety is a top concern for ADJ, which is why the circuit of the Fog Fury 2000 automatically shuts off when there is no more fog juice in the fluid tank, preventing any electrocution or burning of flammable components.
However, unlike other fog machines, the Fog Fury 2000 can only be installed in limited orientations, which is either standing or hanging overhead, so you won’t have many angles covered if you’re going to stick with this fog machine for other angles on the stage.
Pros
- ETS technology maintains heat level between blasts
- Automatic shut-off when the fluid tank is empty
- 7000 cubic feet output
- Dense fog for greater visibility
Cons
- Limited options for angled installation
Chauvet DJ Hurricane 2000
The Hurricane 2000 by Chauvet DJ is a large fog machine with a powerful output, making it a great fog machine for larger studios, auditoriums, and theaters as the fog is thick and dense enough for it to be visible to people around the facility.
The capacity of the fluid tank on the Hurricane 2000 is 1 whole gallon of fog fluid, which means you don’t have to constantly refill between shows to keep it functioning, as 1 gallon is more than enough for a single show.
The output of the Hurricane 2000 is at 25,000 cubic feet per minute, giving it a dense fog for a beautiful visual effect for every performance for hours.
Chauvet DJ also gives you two options for connecting its input and output so you have flexibility, as they have installed 3- and 5-pin DMX ports for you to be able to set the fog machine up with your control panel.
However, the Chauvet DJ Hurricane 2000 Fog Machine is not as great as other machines, as failing to use the fog machine regularly will cause some of its components to deteriorate, essentially causing the entire machine to malfunction or not function at all.
Pros
- Automatic shut-off when the fluid tank is empty
- 25,000 cfm output
- Multiple DMX input and output ports for flexibility
- The fluid tank has a 1-gallon capacity
Cons
- Durability is not that great
Martin Lighting JEM ZR45
Martin Lighting’s JEM ZR45 is a powerful fog machine, and rightfully so given its size and large fluid tank capacity, giving it the ability to stand out even in stadiums with an open air design.
The fluid tank that comes with the fogger has a 5-liter capacity to match its 1,300 cubic meters per minute or 45,909 cubic feet per minute output, allowing to continuously produce a stream of thick fog for a long period of time.
The output capacity of the JEM ZR45 is also large enough to cover an entire large room with thick, dense fog in a matter of minutes, so you won’t have to waste both electricity and fluid just to cover the room with thin fog for more than 20 minutes.
The JEM ZR45 can also be installed both on the ground or hanging on a truss, allowing you to place it in any angle you see fit to get the stadium or your room the visual effect it needs to catch attention.
If you’re looking for fog machines that generate columns of thick fog, then the JEM ZR45 by Martin Lighting is not the machine for you, as it is only a fogger that produces streams of fog for the floor of stadiums.
Pros
- 5-liter fluid tank capacity
- Multiple ports for output
- 45,909 cfm output
- Installable at different angles
Cons
- Does not produce columns of fog
1byone Fog Machine
The 1byone Fog Machine is a typical fog machine that I would normally see in stores and malls, as well as small events to attract customers and the audience by adding some visual effects, especially when they want to add an air of mystery to their products.
Despite the small architecture of the fog machine, it is a very capable tool that produces a thick amount of fog at an output of 2000 cubic feet per minute, giving enough visual effects to truly capture the attention and fascination of your audience.
The 1byone Fog Machine has also been designed to be easily portable, weighing only 4.7 pounds or roughly 2 kilos, and coming along with a handle which makes it easy for anyone to carry the fog machine in their hands.
Along with the fog machine comes a wired remote control with a length of 6.5 feet, so you can easily switch the fog machine on and off from a distance without having to be near it all the time.
However, you will find that the fog machine will need to be watched and refilled constantly as the fluid tank capacity is not that large, and turning it on with an empty tank leads to burning the plastic components in the machine.
Pros
- Small and portable design
- Durable build
- 2000 cfm full blast output
- The fog produced is thick and dense
Cons
- Fluid tank capacity is small
AGPTEK 500W Fog Machine
This 500 watt Fog Machine by AGPTEK is one of the best fog machines for home owners who like to ghost parties and events with a little pizzazz and color, as the fog that comes out of the machine has color itself.
Attached on the 500W Fog Machine are three LED lights with different colors, so the fog that is produced by the machine distorts and spreads the light to give the room or the event space a color that can’t be achieved with just regular lights.
The output of the fog machine by AGPTEK is at 2000 cubic feet per minute, and it automatically stops spraying after a full blast to reheat the coil so it can pump out another blast of fog.
However, you will have to continuously press on the wireless remote to bring the fog machine to a full blast, unlike other fog machines that only use a switch or a press of a button to achieve a full blast.
Pros
- Comes with a wireless remote
- 2000 cfm fog output is thick enough for rooms
- LED lights add color to the fog
- Portable and easy to carry
Cons
- Remote needs to be pressed constantly for a full blast
ADJ VF400 Portable Fog Machine
Despite its lack of “flashy-ness” or beautiful design, the VF400 Portable Fog Machine by ADJ remains as the best portable fog machine because of its high output capacity at a low wattage consumption.
Unlike other fog machines, ADJ’s VF400 produces 3,000 cubic feet per minute of fod while only consuming 400 watts of energy, and the stream of fog is thick enough to add a great visual effect and scatter to the lights to capture your audience’s attention.
The VF400 also comes with a wired remote so you can easily control the fog machine from your operation booth without sticking out like a sore thumb near the stage.
You might find that the capacity of the fluid tank on the VF400 is too small, which really only makes it good for a few full blasts, but this is the sacrifice that needs to be taken if you want smaller and more portable fog machines.
Pros
- Comes with a wired remote
- 3,000 cfm full blast output
- Consumes only 400 watts of energy
- Easily portable fog machine
Cons
- Small capacity on the fluid tank (.25L)
Chauvet DJ Hurricane 1000
The best compact fog machine is the smaller version of the Hurricane 2000, the Hurricane 1000 by Chauvet DJ, a powerful yet lightweight and small fog machine made for people who like to save space in both their car and on the stage.
The Hurricane 1000 has a 1-liter fluid tank that is suited for its output of 10,000 cubic feet per minute, producing a thick and dense fog that creates a mysterious effect for the performance.
Chauvet DJ has lined the fluid tank of the Hurricane 1000 so you can easily see and determine how much fog fluid is left in it, so you don’t have to constantly open the lid to see if you have enough for the show.
However, you will have to wait for some time before you can achieve another full blast, as the heating pad takes time to reheat before it reaches the temperature that allows it to release 10,000 cfm of fog.
Pros
- Compact but still powerful
- 10,000 cfm full blast output
- 2-minute heat-up time
- Comes with both wired and wireless remotes
Cons
- Takes time to reheat before another full blast
ATDAWN Halloween Fog Machine
The Halloween Fog Machine by ATDAWN is a fog machine made exactly for beginner users of fog machines, as it comes with multiple options for controlling it while still being at a small size.
It has a good output of 1,500 cubic feet per minute, which is a thick stream of fog that is about 2-3 meters long from the nozzle, still giving you a good fog output even if you’re new to the game.
For this machine, you will have to hold the button of the remote down for it to produce a continuous stream of fog, which can be very tiring to do if you’d rather have a fog machine that only requires one press to produce a stream of fog.
Pros
- 1,500 cfm full blast output
- Thick and dense fog 2-3 meters long
- Easily portable
- Made of good material for proper heat dissipation and durability
Cons
- Button requires holding down to produce a full blast
ADJ Fog Fury Jett
The Fog Fury Jett by ADJ is the best colored fog machine that you can easily use at both small and big events, in stadiums, theaters, or auditoriums.
The Fog Fury Jett has been installed by ADJ’s patented Electronic Thermo Sensing technology, which allows it to maintain the temperature after each blast so you don’t have to wait for it to reheat between consecutive blasts.
The fog machine also comes with 12 different-colored LED lights to add a better visual effect to the fog it produces.
However, if you don’t wait between consecutive blasts, the fog that will be produced will not be as strong as the first, so if you want full blasts each time, you’ll have to wait for some time before switching the machine on again.
Pros
- Comes with 12 different-colored LED lights
- Comes with wireless remote
- .79-gallon tank capacity
- Fog produced is tall and thick
Cons
- Consecutive blasts are not as powerful if not allowed to recharge for a few seconds
Chauvet Pro Vesuvio II
Chauvet’s Pro Vesuvio II earns the title of the best overall fog machine because of its ability to create tall columns of fog in less than a whole minute; fog that can come in different colors thanks to its built-in LED lights.
If you’re looking for different angles to install the Chauvet in, it won’t be much of a problem for you since you can install it on the ground, have it hanging overhead, or even on the wall horizontally to give more of a dimension to the stage.
The Pro Vesuvio II can actually be ready to burst fully in just 40 seconds, matching its high output of 40,000 cubic feet per minute, while only consuming 80ml of fluid for every minute, allowing you to have multiple blasts in a single show without having to refill it.
The tall columns of fog from the Chauvet Pro Vesuvio II also come in 10 different colors, thanks to its integrated high-intensity LED lights, so the fog itself doesn’t look too plain.
Furthermore, the Pro Vesuvio II can also be accessed remotely, so you won’t have to worry about complicated wiring with other equipment just to get it to work as well as allow you to activate only one fog machine for truly special effects.
Pros
- 40,000 cfm output
- 40-second full blast capacity
- 80 ml/min fluid consumption
- 10 high-intensity LED lights for colored fog
Cons
- Large and bulky design
Buying Guide
In this part of the article, I will list down the necessary factors you need to consider when choosing a fog machine.
Fog Output
Fog output is normally measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm), and the bigger the cfm on a fog machine is, the thicker the fog it produces, so you will have to match it up with the setting with which you’ll place the fog machine in.
Fog Type
Fog machines can either be just regular foggers which produce a continuous stream of low-lying fog or those equipped with blasters that produce columns of fog with each blast, so read the details of the fog machine before buying it to get the one you really need.
Energy Consumption
Many people buy fog machines without looking at how much energy it consumes, and then suffer the consequences of a large energy bill after an event like halloween.
Check the wattage on a fog machine before buying to determine how much you can spend on the energy bill after using the machine for an hour, this way you’ll be more aware of the actual price of a fog machine.
Portability
If you’re just going to use fog machines in your home or when you travel around for different gigs, then you’d want to invest in small and portable but still powerful fog machines, whereas you should stick with the most powerful and bulky fog machines if you’ll be staying in one event space like a stadium.
FAQs
Are fog machines safe?
Many fog machines in the market have been certified by different safety organizations, so always check the label on each one of them to see if they have been certified by any of the safety organizations globally or locally.
Can we inhale fog from fog machines?
There is still a debate whether the fog from fog machines is safe to inhale, so it is best to keep anyone with respiratory problems or disorders away from fog machines to prevent any critical reactions.
Editor’s Pick
The different kinds of fog machines in the market can make it quite confusing to choose one, which is why I’ve made a list of the best fog machines and a buying guide to help you really pick out which works well for you.
For me, the best overall fog machine is truly the ADJ Fog Fury 2000, although it has a medium size, it still is cable of producing a good amount of colored fog, making it good for any kind of event, even in open-air settings.
